Category: Parkinsons Disease

Morning Has Broken: My phone alarm goes off at 6.45am, every day; it’s time to take my medication. This week, the sultry, velvet voice of Ella Fitzgerald singing ‘Summertime’, in a duet with the magical Louis Armstrong, has been my favourite way for the start of each new day to be announced. (Photo: Ella Fitzgerald. Source: dunderbeck1980 on…

One of the subjects that people with Parkinson’s have both experience of and opinion about is that of side effects caused by medication. The possible side effects of short and long-term medication use are well listed within the information leaflets found within medication packs. Side effects are also well listed and, more importantly, described on…

One of my cousins lives in the north of England. She is a kind person and she has taken a keen interest in learning about Parkinson’s, since my diagnosis last year. She has offered many a kind word, from the other end of the phone, and she has witnessed some of the worst of my…

One of the difficulties that people with Parkinson’s tell me about is their sense of frustration at the realisation their diagnosis has changed them forever. I know this feeling, myself. I too am well aware of the limitations this disease has upon my life and of how I will never regain my former good health…

As many of my readers who are, themselves, living with Parkinson’s will know, we patients have to attend a regular consultation with our Neurologists to discuss how we have been doing and to monitor for disease progression. Today, I attended my second review appointment. This time, to help save me a longer journey to Ipswich…

“The more I expect, the more unhappy I am going to be. The more I accept, the more serene I am.” – Michael J. Fox. One of the most common difficulties that I see, in other people with Parkinson’s, is frustration. Indeed, I see this in myself at times, too. Frustration that comes from having…

Identity is a significant subject for people living with a chronic health disease/illness or disability. For some, the chronic health problem or disability is with them from birth. In those cases the person’s identity, as being someone living with a chronic health problem or disability, is more likely to be formed earlier in life. Here,…

Something that I have become aware of, since being diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, is that there is nobody in my life to teach me how to ‘do’ Parkinson’s Disease! Throughout my life there have been my parents, family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, employers, trainers and people I know/knew to learn from and emulate. Today,…

Can it already be mid-way through January? With the festive season already behind us, many of us will have made an effort toward our New Year’s Resolutions. Some may have made a great in-roads, while others may already be lambasting themselves as a failure. At that point, some may give up, while others may develop…

Life is a Rollercoaster. For me, this has been a landmark year. With the high points including the many fun gatherings with family and friends, making wonderful new friends, a move to focusing on developing my writing career, taking up new study, achieving a long sought diagnosis for my chronic health illness, becoming a member…